• Minister hoping to provide certain relief packages for transportation sector soon

By Chaturanga Samarawickrama   

There will be no strikes or trade union action relating to public transport tomorrow, Transport Minister Dilum Amunugama said. 
  
He said the decision was taken following discussions with the Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB), the Railways Department and private bus trade unions. “We discussed with the said trade unions and came to a final decision not to engage in any strike or trade union action by the public transport sector, causing inconvenience to people during this current economic crisis,” he said.   

“The message that the transport trade unions are trying to convey to the government has already been noted and the government is looking into the issues. There is no point in mounting more burden on the general public through strikes,” the Minister said.   

Finally, discussions came to a conclusion that there would not be any trade union action or strike tonight. The Minister is hoping to provide certain relief packages for the public transportation sector soon, he said.   

The IGP was also advised on this and he is also being advised to take legal action against the protesters who are blocking the roads and causing harm to the livelihood of the public, he added.    

He said the decision was taken following discussions with the Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB), the Railways Department and private bus trade unions. “We discussed with the said trade unions and came to a final decision not to engage in any strike or trade union action by the public transport sector, causing inconvenience to people during this current economic crisis,” he said.   

“The message that the transport trade unions are trying to convey to the government has already been noted and the government is looking into the issues. There is no point in mounting more burden on the general public through strikes,” the Minister said.   

Finally, discussions came to a conclusion that there would not be any trade union action or strike tonight. The Minister is hoping to provide certain relief packages for the public transportation sector soon, he said.   

The IGP was also advised on this and he is also being advised to take legal action against the protesters who are blocking the roads and causing harm to the livelihood of the public, he added.